Wheel cover



Oct. 21, 1958 G. A.. LYON WHEEL COVER Original Filed Oct. 12, 1953United States Patent 70 Original application October 12, 1953, SerialNo. 385,472, now Patent No. 2,779,632, dated January 29, 1957.

Divided and this application December 7, 1956, Serial No. 627,063

10 Claims. (Cl. 30137) The present invention relates to improvements inthe ornamental and protective covering of the outer sides of vehiclewheels and more. particularly concerns a new and improved wheel coverfor such wheels.

The present invention is a division of my application Serial No. 385,472filed October 12, 1953, now Patent No. 2,779,632 issued January 29,1957.

An important object of the present invention is to provide in a wheelstructure an improved self-retaining cover which is provided not onlywith self-retaining fingers for gripping a wheel flange but also withimproved means for not only maintaining the axial disposition of thecover but also for assisting in maintaining the cover against turning onthe wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved trim ringconstruction having improved means for retaining engagement with a tirerim.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel cover fordisposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel and provided with aircirculation openings having cover retaining fingers so locatedtherebehind for retaining engagement with a wheel flange that theyfunction to minimize the apparent size of the openings although theopenings are actually of fairly large dimensions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means forholding a wheel cover member against turning relative to a wheel andthereby avoiding distortion of a valve stem that may project through thecover member.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a press-on, pry-offwheel cover having improved pry-off shoulder means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a wheelstructure an improved cover for disposition thereover having novel meansfor affording air circulation and dirt and water escape from behind thecover.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,in which:

Figure 1 is an outer side face elevational view of a wheel structureembodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary radial sectional detail view takensubstantially on the line II-II of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the cover member ofthe present invention.

According to the present invention, the cover member 5 is constructedand arranged to be applied to the outer side of a vehicle wheelincluding a wheel body 7 which may be of the disk spider type marginallyattached to a drop center multi-flanged tire rim including a base flange8 between which and the periphery of the wheel body is preferablyprovided a series of circumferentially spaced wheel openings 7a,sometimes referred to as chain slots, but through which air is adaptedto circulate in the operation of the wheel for assisting in cooling thebrake struc- 2,857,211 Patented. Oct. 21, 1.958;-

ture and more particularly means behind the wheel such. as a brake drum(not shown). Extending generally radially outwardly and facing axiallyoutwardly from the axially outer side of the base flange 8 is a sidefiange9. that merges with a generally axially outwardly extending andradially inwardly facing oblique intermediate flange 10 joining at itsaxially outer side a generally radially outwardly and then axiallyoutwardly turned terminalflange 11, at juncture with which is a shoulder12 which. it.will be observed is offset generally radially and axiallyoutwardly relative to the juncture between the wheel body and the tirerim, and more particularly with respect. to the wheel openings 7a. Asuitable pneumatic. tire 13 which as shown is of the tire and tubeassembly type, but which may as well be a tubeless tire, is adapted tobe carried by the tire rim. I 1

In the present instance, the cover member 5 is shown as being in theform of an annulus or trim ring for overlying the tire rim and theadjacent portion of the wheel body 7 and more particularly the portionhaving thewheel rim. Where the cover 5 is in. the form of a trim ring,it 1 may be accompanied on the wheel by a central cover member or hubcap 14 which overlies. at least the central portion of the wheel body 7but may be constructed and arranged to extend to within a predeterminedspaced relation to the inner margin of the cover member 5, asbest seenin Figure 1.

The cover member 5 may be made from suitable sheet material such assteel sheet or strip and more particularly stainless steel, althoughsuitable brass sheet may also be used. It lends itself readily toinexpensive mass production methods of manufacture such as rolling orpress equipment. Furthermore, the cover member 5' may be economicallyprovided with a suitable external finish and where it is made from amaterial such as stainless steel, it can economically be provided with ahighly lustrous external finish by simple bufling operations. Brasslends itself readily to a highly lustrous polishing and then platingtreatment. Q Herein the cover member 5 comprises an annular portion 15having a radially outer axially outwardly convex reinforcing ribmarginal portion 17 with an underturned reinforcing and finishing flange18 providing a reinforced radially outer extremity edge which inassembly with the wheel is adapted to bedisposed adjacent tothe tip ofthe terminal flange 11. From the reinforcing margin 17 the main bodyportion 15 of the trim cover member extends generally radially andaxially inwardly obliquelybut preferably slightly concavely with respectto its axially outer side, so that in the assembly with the wheel theouter marginal portion 17 can overlie the terminal flange 11 while theinner extremity of the body portion 15 lies over the wheel body 7closely adjacent to the radially inner sides of the wheel openings 7a soas to be in substantial concealing relation to such wheel openings. Anunderturned reinforcing and finishing flange 19 provides'a sturdyfinished inner edge for the trim ring 5.

For retaining the cover member 5' in press-on, pry-off relation on thewheel, a series of retaining fingers 20 is provided thereon in anannular intermediate portion of the cover body and such retainingfingers are preferably derived integrally in one piece with the coverbody 15 from material derived by striking the same from respectiveopenings 21 through the cover and disposed in an annularcircumferentially spaced series. In the present instance, the openings21 in the cover are provided at juncture of the oblique portion of thecover body 15 with the outer annular marginal portion 17' and thelocation axially inwardly therefrom so as to be opposite the side,

flange 9 in the portion of the cover member that generallytelescopically opposes the intermediate flange 10 in substantialdiverging relation thereto.

"As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, the cover openings 21 are preferablyof generally wedge shape and of substan tial width between generallyradially outwardly converging side edges defining the openings, beingdefined entirely around the edge of the opening by a narrow generallyaxially inwardly directed reinforcing flange 22.

From the radially inner sides or edges-defining each of the openings 21,and more particularly as integral one piece extensions from thereinforcing flange 22 defining the radially inner'side of each opening,the respective retaining finger or clip extends as material deflectedfrom the respective opening 21. Each of the fingers 20 includes agenerally axially inwardly and radially outwardly oblique body leg 23terminating in a substantially shorter generally radially and axiallyoutwardly oblique retaining terminal leg or flange 24 that has agenerally radially and axially outwardly projecting rim flange gripping,retaining edge 25 normally projecting to a diameter slightly greaterthan the diameter of the inner face of the intermediate flange 10 to beengaged thereby. It will be observed, especially from Figure 3, that theradially inner portion of the reinforcing flange 22 is of arcuate shape,that is bowed radially outwardly, and that such inner portion is thelongest portion since it is at the widest portion of the opening 21 andthereby provides maximum width for the retaining finger leg 23 where itjoins and is in common with the reinforcing flange, that is the fullmaximum width of the opening 21 at its radially inner side. From thebase juncture of the finger leg 23 with the cover member, it extendswith the sides converging toward a reinforcing, stiffening juncture rib27 with the terminal flange 24, and such rib is also preferablyarcuately shaped, generally like the reinforcing flange juncture of thefinger leg 23. Through this arrangement, it will be appreciated that theretaining finger body or leg portions 23 are of substantial resilientstiffness, inclusive of the juncture ribs 27. Since the retainingterminal flanges 24 are substantially shorter than the body leg portions23 and are several times as wide as long and joined to the body legportions 23 on the stifl? bowed reinforcing rib 27, the retainingterminal flanges 24 are substantially stiffer than the body leg portions23. The resilient stiffness of the retaining finger body leg portions 23and the stiffness of the terminal flange portions 24 afiord substantialadvantages and efliciency in retaining the cover on the wheel.

In applying the cover member 5 to the outer side of the wheel, a valvestem aperture 28, preferably provided between a pair of the coveropenings 21, is registered with a valve stem 29 that projects as iscustomary from the side flange 9 of the tire rim. Then the wheel covermember 5 is pressed axially inwardly so that the retaining finger edges25 will cam generally axially and radially inwardly along the inclinedrim flange 10. This resiliently stresses or tensions the retainingfinger bodies 23 and thus provides strong tensioned thrust of theretaining terminal edges 25 into generally biting gripping relationagainst the inner face of the rim flange 10. A desirable factor in suchgripping thrust resides in the more radially extending than axiallyextending disposition of the retaining finger legs 23 so that a highlyadvantageous thrust effort on the longitudinal axis of the retainingfinger leg 23 is attained as well as the resiliently radiallydeflectional thrust force generated in the retaining engagement of thefingers with the rim flange.

Herein, the side portions of the reinforcing flanges 22 defining therespective openings 21 are utilized as. axially 1 inward positioningstops for the cover member 5, and also to serve as turn preventingmeans. Since there are a substantial number of the openings 21, in thepresent instance from 12 to 15, depending upon the size of the wheel forwhich the cover is provided, there are twice as many points of contactof the flange 22 with the shoulder 12 as there are openings and thushigh percentage contact of stop preventing edges with the rim shoulder.This not only assures good turn preventing engagement with the rimshoulder 12 but also stability of stop engagement. Furthermore, sinceengagement by the stop flanges 22 with the rim shoulder 12 is in generalalignment with the engagement of the retaining finger edges 25 with theintermediate flange 10, there is minimum tendency for undesirabletwisting or canting or distortion that might disturb the cover retainingrelationship of the retaining fingers 20 responsive to extraneous forcesor pressures that may be imposed upon the cover member 5 in service.

By having the cover opening flanges 22 serve as axial stops for thecover, spaced relationship of both the radially inner and outer edgeextremity portions of the cover relative to the wheel is enabled. At theradially inner side of the cover this is advantageous since thereby thecover is supported free from the wheel body 7 and thus no interferencefrom extreme manufacturing tolerance relative axial positioning of thewheel body and tire rim need be taken into account, because the cover isentirely supported by the tire rim. At the radially outer side of thecover it is advantageous to have the extremity at least slightly spacedfrom the tip of the tire rim terminal flange 11 so as to accommodatefreely the usual clips of wheel balancing weights that are adapted to beconcealably housed Within the chamber defined between the terminalflange 11 and the cover marginal portion 17. Additionally, it isdesirable to have the radially outer marginal extremity of the covermember spaced from the tire rim to enable free escape of dirt or waterthat may get in behind the cover during service. In fact, the spacedrelation of the cover body 15 between the cover openings 21 maintainedby the stop flanges 17 in engagement with the rim shoulder 12, enablescentrifugal or gravity discharge of dirt or water that may some how getinto the chamber or passage defined behind the cover body portion 15 andotherwise defined by the side flange 9 and the intermediate flange 10 ofthe tire rim.

In addition, the spaced relationship maintained between the tire rim andthe body portion 15 of the cover member facilitates air circulationbehind the cover and outwardly past the rim shoulder 12 and then outpast the underturned cover flange 18. Such air circulation behind thecover is supplemental to air circulation that may occur through thewheel cover openings 21 which aflord communication externally of thecover from the chamber behind the cover body 15 and with which the wheelopenings 7a communicate. It will be noticed that the radially innerportion of the cover body 15 serves as a baflle cooperative with theradially inner sides of the wheel openings 7a to direct flow of airtoward the cover openings 21 and the space gap passage between the coverand the tire rim shoulder 12.

While leaving the cover openings 21 unobstructed, it will be observedthat by virtue of the fact that the openings are in an inclined portionof the cover, and the retaining fingers 20 extend generally radiallyoutwardly axially inwardly of the openings, to underlie the openingsthey provide what from the outer side of the cover appear as partialclosures especially between the cover openings 21 and the relativelydeep chamber defined with the rim flanges 9 and 10 behind the cover andwhich would otherwise appear as more or less dark space behind the coverthrough the openings. The small areas of the tire rim shoulder 12 thatare exposed through the cover openings 21 are decoratively harmoniouswith the portion of the Wheel'body 7 exposed between the edge of the hubcap 14 and the inner edge ofthe cover 5.

By having the cover openings 21 extending across the tire rim shoulder12 so that the portions of the cover opening-defining flanges 22 arelocated axially and radially outwardly fromthe rim shoulder, yet anotheradvantage is attained in that the radially outer portions of theinturned reinforcing flange 22 defining any one of the openings 21 isadapted to serve as a secondary pry-off shoulder. This is useful, aftera pry-off tool such as a screwdriver has been inserted behind the turnedouter edge flange 18 of the cover to afford initial pry-off leverage,when the tip of the pry-off tool can he engaged behind the adjacentportion of the opening defining flange 22 and further pry-off leverageforce applied to dislodge the cover from the wheel by causing theengagement tips of the retaining fingers to slide axially outwardly fromthe engaged relationship thereof with the intermediate rim flange 10.During the imposition of pry-off leverage, the resiliency of theretaining finger legs 23 enables at least slight radial displacement ofthe cover member toward the opposite side of the wheel to therebyslightly relieve the retaining finger or fingers nearest the applicationof pry-off force due to the backing off thus accomplished. Furthermore,the angle ofthe retaining finger legs 23 enhances the retaining fingerdisengagement in response to pry-off force since there is then agenerally radially inwardly and axially outward pull of the retainingfinger legs 23 relative to the retaining terminal flanges 24 thereofaway from the engaged surface of the intermediate flange 10.

Of course, if preferred, and after the hub cap 14 has been removed fromthe wheel, a pry-off tool may be applied behind the radially innerunderturned flange 19 of the ring cover member 5 to apply pry-off forceto the cover. However, generally this is not as convenient as theapplication of pry-off force from the radially outer side of the cover.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wheel structure including a tire rim having a generally radiallyinwardly facing flange with a shoulder located axially outwardly inrelation thereto, a cover for disposition at the outer side of the wheelincluding an annular series of spaced openings in that portion whichoverlies said flange, and a series of cover retaining fingers deflectedfrom said openings and extending from the radially inner sides thereofgenerally radially outwardly in underlying relation to the respectiveopening and having a retaining terminal retainingly engageable with theradially facing rim flange, said openings overlying said rim shoulderand being provided with side flanges engageable with the rim shoulder. I

2. In a wheel structure including a tire rim having a generally radiallyinwardly facing flange with a shoulder located axially outwardly inrelation thereto, a cover for disposition at the outer side of the wheelincluding an annular series of spaced openings in that portion whichoverlies said flange, and a series of cover retaining fingers deflectedfrom said openings and extending from the radially inner sides thereofgenerally radially outwardly in underlying relation to the respectiveopening and having a retaining terminal retainingly engageable with theradially facing rim flange, said retaining fingers being of angular formhaving generally radially outwardly and axially inwardly extendingresilient legs with the terminals comprising angularly related short andstiff generally radially and axially outwardly extending terminalflanges having tips thereon grippingly retainingly engageable with therim flange under resilient tensioned thrust of the finger legs.

3. In a wheel structure including a generally radially inwardly facingrim flange having a shoulder disposed axially outwardly therefrom, acover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel including a seriesof circumferentially spaced openings therethrough for overlying the rimshoulder and said flange and with the openings defined by continuousaxially inwardly directed flanges thereabout, the radially innerportions of said flanges having as integral extensions therefrom andcomprising material derived from the openings retaining fingersextending generally radially and axially outwardly behind the openingsand engageable retainingly with the rim flange, said opening definingflanges having side portions engageable as spacer stops against said rimshoulder.

4. In a wheel structure including a generally radially inwardly facingrim flange having a shoulder disposed axially outwardly therefrom, acover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel including a seriesof circumferentially spaced openings therethrough for overlying the rimshoulder and said flange and with the openings defined by continuousaxially inwardly directed flanges thereabout, the radially innerportions of said flanges having as integral extensions therefrom andcomprising material derived from the openings retaining fingersextending generally radially and axially outwardly behind the openingsand engageable retainingly with the rim flange, said opening definingflanges having side portions engageable as spacer stops against said rimshoulder, said opening-defining flanges having radially outer portionsthereof offset radially and axially outwardly relative to said rimshoulder and serving as a pry-off shoulder.

5. In a wheel structure including a generally radially inwardly facingrim flange having a shoulder disposed axially outwardly therefrom, acover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel including a seriesof circumferentially spaced openings therethrough for overlying the rimshoulder and said flange and with the openings defined by continuousaxially inwardly directed flanges thereabout, the radially innerportions of said flanges having as integral extensions therefrom andcomprising material derived from the openings retaining fingersextending generally radially and axially outwardly behind the openingsand engageable retainingly with the rim flange, said opening definingflanges having side portions engageable as spacer stops against said rimshoulder, said opening-defining flanges having radially outer portionsthereof offset radially and axially outwardly relative to said rimshoulder and serving as a pry-off shoulder, the cover having generallyradially outwardly spaced from said flange pry-01f shoulder a primaryreinforcededge pry-off shoulder.

6. In a wheel structure including a tire rim having an intermediateflange and a terminal flange with a juncture shoulder therebetween, acover for disposition at the outer side of the wheel and comprising aportion for overlying the tire rim including said intermediate andterminal flanges, the cover having an outer marginal portion fordefining with the terminal flange a wheel weight chamber and radiallyinwardly adjacent to said outer marginal portion a circumferentialseries of spaced openmgs for overlying said rim shoulder and saidintermediate flange and having generally axially inwardly turnedreinforcing flanges at the openings engageable against said rim shoulderas axially inward stops, with cover retaining means behind the coverengageable with the intermediate flange for retaining the cover on thewheel.

7. In a wheel structure including a tire rim and a wheelbody havingopenings adjacent juncture with the tire rim, a cover for disposition atthe outer side of the wheel comprising a circular cover member inclinedgenerally axially and radially inwardly and dimensioned-to overlie thetire rim and having an inner edge of a diameter to overlie the wheelbody adjacent the radially inner sides of the wheel openings, the coverhaving air circulation openings therethrough spaced substantially fromsaid radially inner edge and the intervening body portion of the coverserving as a baflle for directing air passage between the wheel andcover openings, said cover openings being disposed to overlie agenerally radially inwardly facing rim flange and having pressedtherefrom and extending from the radially inner sides thereof generallyradially outwardly and axially inwardly cover retaining fingers forretaining engagement with said rim flange.

8. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel, acircular cover member comprising an annular radially and axiallyinclined portion for generally telescoping divergent relation to aradially facing wheel flange, said cover member having an annular seriesof apertures therethrough defined by entirely circumscribing generallyaxially inwardly directed reinforcing flanges about the openings, saidflanges having at the axially innermost portions of the openingsintegral finger extensions that project generally axially inwardly andradially across the openings and have retaining terminals at their freeends for retaining engagement with the wheel flange and with theretaining fingers affording the appearance of at least partially closingthe openings and concealing the portions of the wheel behind theretaining fingers.

9. In a cover for disposition over a vehicle wheel having a radiallyfacing annular flange structure, a cover member including an inclinedannular portion with a circumferentially spaced series of openings whichare substantially wider than long and of generally wedge shape withsides converging from greatest width at the radially innermost portionsof the openings, said radially innermost portions of the openings havingas integral one piece extensions therefrom retaining fingers of materialdeflected from the openings and provided with resilient legs joined tothe cover at the openings and having short terminal flanges angledrelative thereto and joining the same on reinforcing rib juncture, saidreinforcing rib juncture and the juncture of the fingers with the coverbeing on arcuate reinforcing curvature whereby to afford substantialresilient stiffness in said finger legs, said finger legs projectingacross said openings for engagement with the. cover flange structureover which the openings are adapted to be disposed.

10. In a wheel structure including a generally radially facing annularflange and a generally axially outwardly facing annular shoulder, acover for disposition over the outer side of the wheel including coverretaining means for engagement in press-on, pry-off relation with saidradially facing flange, the cover including an annular portion foroverlying said axially outwardly facing annular shoulder, said annularcover portion having a circumferential series of openings therethrough,said openings being defined by circumferential side flanges directedaxially inwardly toward said wheel shoulder and having axially inneredges engaging said wheel shoulder and thereby supporting said annularportion of the cover in spaced relation to said wheel shoulder, saidopening flange edges generally bitingly engaging said shoulder andthereby holding the cover against turning on the wheel, said wheelshoulder being of angular cross-section and projecting generally towardthe outer side of the wheel and toward the annular portion of the coverand said cover openings extending across the wheel shoulder with saidcover opening flanges engaging upon the crest portion of the wheelshoulder with enhanced biting effect due to limited points of engagementwith the wheel shoulder crest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.22,042 Lyon Mar. 3, 1942 1,948,273 Lyon Feb. 20, 1934 2,198,056 LyonApr. 23, 1940 2,368,228 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 2,368,237 Lyon Jan. 30, 19452,368,238 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 2,633,944 Butterfield "Apr. 7, 1953

